Josh Whatley: Getting ill to race in Moto3, proving himself in World Supersport

Many racing fans mainly remember Josh Whatley from when he raced in the Moto3 World Championship from 2022 until mid-2024, with MLav Racing (previously known as Visiontrack Racing, and now as GRYD Racing). That time, however, was a tough one for the Brit born in 2005, with just few point finishes and many struggles. Now, after rebuilding his career in the Moto2 European Championship, Whatley has found his way in the FIM Supersport World Championship, where he scored points in many occasions with the Orelac Racing Team.

Palmen in Motorradsport had the chance to interview Josh Whatley, with whom I had a heartfelt chat about his career and the huge struggles he experienced during his Grand Prix time.

Josh, what can you say about the 2026 season?

It wasn't too bad. We struggled with some things, but I think for a rookie season we managed to do some good results, when the bike worked well and everything was in the right place.

What's the best race you had in 2026?

Result-wise I'd say Magny-Cours, definitely, with the 6th place scored in Race 1. Apart from that, we had a few races close to the top ten, but I think the round I probably enjoyed the most was either Misano or Phillip Island. We were quite strong in both cases, just we weren't able to show it completely.

How do you like the WorldSBK paddock?

I quite like it. It's a lot more professional than British Superbikes, I'd say. It's about the same as MotoGP, but just a lot friendlier. You can talk with the people, with the guys. It's a lot more relaxed compared to MotoGP or any other paddock.

What are your plans for 2027?

I don't have anything confirmed yet, but I would like to stay in World Supersport.

Let's now take a step back to the beginnings of your career. How and when did you start racing motorcycles?

Since I was born, I have always been around bikes, because back then my dad sponsored a few riders in BSB, mainly James Ellison. One day, one of my dad's friends said: "Why don't you let him try a minimoto?". From there, it just kind of took off.

Can you share more about your progression until reaching the World Championship?

I started in FAB Racing, which is the British Championship for minibikes. I won three titles there and then I went to over to Spain with one of my friends: Jamie Davis. He was riding for the Fau55 team in the Spanish Moto4 Championship, while myself I raced in the 80cc category with the same team and with Álex Escrig as my teammate. I had some good results there and so I moved to Moto4, where I scored some podiums.

I later raced in both European Talent Cup and British Talent Cup. I had a few podiums in the BTC in 2018 and nearly won the British Motostar Championship in 2019, both while scoring a couple of top-10 finishes in the European Talent Cup. From there I moved to the Moto3 Junior World Championship in 2020, spending two years there before joining the Moto3 World Championship with MLav Racing.

What are the main highlights of your career so far?

I'd say almost winning the British Motostar Championship in 2019. I hadn't raced any of the BSB tracks before and the riders were quite a lot older than me. However, it was quite a good season when things started to go well. Still a bit heartbreaking that we didn't win the championship for few points, but I had a great time there. Another highlight was the year I spent in the British Talent Cup, where I had quite a few podiums.

And how did you live your time in the Moto3 World Championship, from 2022 until mid-2024?

They were probably the hardest 2.5 years of my racing career and probably of my life in general (only three points finishes, all in 2023, and twice 14th as best results, ed). I don't want to say bad things about people, but I would say that the team wasn't up to standard to compete at that level at that time. Scott (Ogden, ed) managed to make a few good results, also in qualifying, and made the best out of a bad situation, but on the other side of the team I was struggling with weight. I was struggling to be at 60 kilos and that was still a little bit heavy for Moto3, but another issue was that there were disagreements within the team. It just wasn't the best place to be at that time.

Despite all that, I still think it was good to go through those struggles, because it taught me a lot about myself and perseverance and not giving up. I wish it didn't happen, but at the same time I'm also happy it did.

In 2021 you had finished the Moto3 Junior World Championship in 19th place (with the MTA Racing Team, ed). Do you think that you stepped to the Grand Prix paddock a bit too early?

Yes and no. I think I should have had one more year in JuniorGP. I was only 16 when I went to Moto3 and I was too young and not mature enough to deal with all the other situations within the team and stuff like that. I think I could be there in terms of riding skills, but I wasn't mentally ready for the situation I was in. At the same time though I got the opportunity to make that move from a British team and I had always dreamed of racing in MotoGP. In that moment, I couldn't say no.

It's very easy to sit back and say now that I should have waited another year, but when these opportunities come, you never know if it will ever happen again. So I don't have any regrets with it.

Is there anything that you save from that experience?

It helped me with a lot of things during a race weekend, especially when it doesn't go the right way. Being in the position I was in definitely helps in dealing a lot better with being so low in yourself and being so low during a race weekend. A lot of riders that are out at the front have probably never experienced being in such a bad place. Moreover, riding at that level, being away all the time, it shows you how to be a professional rider quite at an early age.

When it was announced that you and MLav Racing were parting ways, after the 2024 GP of Germany, the main reason mentioned was the weight. Being a Moto3 rider in that moment, did you ever reach a point that it was no longer worth it to make such big sacrifices to be as light as other riders in the championship?

Definitely. It was around mid-season in 2022 and we were discussing with the team that I may have to lose weight. Their bikes were pretty slow in that moment and we thought that me losing a few kilos would help our performance. Losing weight was no issue in the end, but the hardest part was staying on that weight. To do that, I was eating about a thousand calories a day and training very hard. The result was that I was getting ill all the time: I wasn't eating enough, I trained too much and I had no energy. I'm naturally built quite big compared to other Moto3 riders, who are literally like a stick and they can eat what they want and stay at like 58 kilos. Me, I had a natural weight of 63 or 64 kg, which makes a big difference on those bikes.

Then, despite that big effort, the bike wasn't getting any faster. So I got to a point where I said: "I can't do this anymore". At th end of 2023 I broke my left leg as well (following a crash at the Qatar GP, ed) and I didn't want to come back that season. The team told me that it was going to be completely different, but when I realized it wouldn't go any better, I just decided to stop.

Then you moved to the Moto2 European Championship, already towards the end of the 2024 season.

When I first went to Moto2, I was quite motivated because I felt like I had to prove something after all the stuff that happened in Moto3. I felt like I could start eating again, which was a big thing for me, and I started to have energy again. The first test was tough; I didn't understand how to ride the bike at all, since it's a lot heavier and more powerful than a Moto3 one. However, the first few races went quite well, already close to the top 5.

I was with Cardoso Racing, and I can't say anything bad about them, because they are one of the most professional family-like teams I've ever been in. They really look after their riders. I stayed with them also in 2025, having a quite good season despite some struggles. At the final race of the year, we found something and we clicked completely, but by that point I had already signed to come to World Supersport. I am sure that if I had stayed in the Moto2 European Championship in 2026 with Cardoso Racing, we would have been at the front.

Your first races in WorldSSP were with MV Agusta Reparto Corse, where you replaced Bo Bendsneyder at the final two rounds of 2025. How was the impact with the championship?

It was my first time racing a production-based bike and when I first got on it, I immediately realized it was completely different. Estoril was tough, since I had never ridden that bike before, but I really enjoyed the following weekend at Jerez, a track I knew quite well. I hadn't enjoyed riding in a long time and it was a good confidence boost for what came next.

At this stage, what's your goal for the future?

I want to be a World Superbike rider. The dream of going to Moto2 or MotoGP is gone now, but I would still be happy to keep racing in World Supersport and then make it to WorldSBK. I'm only 21 now, so I've got a lot of time. My heart's quite set on proving myself in this paddock and showing what I can do here.

In 2026 you also took part in a few races of the British Supersport Championship. How was it?

I raced in Thruxton during the summer break of World Supersport, with XMT Racing. The break was very long, and I thought it would be quite fun to go race. It's not a GP-level track, but I still really enjoyed myself and I had a nice time on track with Çan Önçü and Oli Bayliss. I therefore raced also at Assen. I must admit I really like the BSB paddock, which is very chill and friendly.

Would you consider racing in BSB in the future?

Maybe towards the end of my career. I like BSB, and it's going to be interesting with the changes coming in 2027, but I've always wanted to be in a world championship and I want to continue on this path. Still I would definitely consider BSB later in my career.

Do you have any other interests or passions outside of racing?

Not particularly. My life is basically race weekend, go home, train, relax a bit, train again and come back to a race weekend. That's literally it.

Have you ever tried horse riding, which is the sport your sister Saffron is doing?

When I was younger, my mum used to be a dressage trainer for horses, so we've also been surrounded by horses our whole life. I never rode horses competitively though. I did jump on a horse once and I did fall off. I'm a bit scared of horses, and one even kicked me when I was little. I definitely prefer motorbikes.

In conclusion, here is the "Thank You Moment".

Without my dad, I wouldn't be anywhere. He's my biggest support: if I do something wrong, he'll always be there. If I do something right, he'll be the loudest to cheer about it. I definitely have to thank my dad for everything.

Palmen in Motorradsport is thankful to Josh Whatley for his time and to the Orelac Racing Team for making this interview possible. Best wishes to both the rider and the team for the next chapters of their stories.